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I arrived in Asheville, NC at the beginning of 2014 a little worse for wear. I was a little directionless and looking for solace. In attempt to find a place where I could find peace I set out on the trails. With each hike my confidence grew and I started to fall in love with hiking. From there I found a love for backpacking. Since then I’ve set out to explore as much of the region as possible. Hiking among the mountains has given me a peace that I never knew I could find; I now know that whenever my life is an uncontrollable whirlwind all I have to do is set out on the trails to center myself. I always come back more centered and ready to tackle the challenges of chaos in everyday life.

I write here as a way to share the passion I have found and plead with you to go explore the nature that awaits outside of your smartphones. There’s so much more to the world than those tiny screens.

At the moment I am working on finding balance in life. The struggle between work, training, family, friends, and me time is one that I have yet to find an answer to. But life is all about learning, right?

I am constantly trying to find ways to pursue running and adventuring as a career and the ultimate dream would be creating a club or program for girls that teaches them the value of life outside.

Any help or suggestions for funding races, starting a career, and/or creating a program would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and taking the time to read my posts.

Hiking solo is such a great experience, glad you were able to find the enjoyment and peace it can bring! Good luck on completing the triple crown. I hope to do that one day myself too. I had hoped for PCT this year but looks like I’ll be pushing that back a bit. I look forward to hearing about your adventures!

Solo hiking as been an amazing learning experience for me! I’m so lucky to live in a place where hiking is so accessible. Good luck on your adventures and I hope you get to the PCT soon! I look forward to reading about the adventures you have this year!

Hi Anna! Perhaps you already know about this, but I’ve recently discovered an Americorps program called the Conservation Corps. You don’t get paid a lot, but you do get to go backpacking for a week or so at a time and (after training) lead youth groups into the backcountry for a similar work/educational experience.

Hello Anna. I noticed you “liked” a posting of mine and so I, in turn, went to your site and lo-and-behold!! A fellow hiker/backpacker!! So exciting! Anyhoo…keep us all posted on your plans for SOBO on the AT. I had/have also plans of SOBO on the AT…unfortunately life gets in the way…but I am still thinking on it. I was intending for 2015 but now ? 2016. Just one other word for you: stop trying to define who you are and just enjoy “being”.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment! I appreciate it! I hope you get to go next year!! That would be pretty cool to know a fellow hiker on the trail. Life gets in the way too easily, it’s totally understandable! Keep us posted on your journey there too!

I can tell you how to, even with no experience (extraordinary physical fitness is the main requirement). If you want a life in the mountains, and want to try guiding, I can put you in touch with one of the busiest guiding companies in the US (they guide in the US and around the world). It isn’t a career in backpacking, but it puts you in touch with the people who could assist with that.

I noticed somebody gave you the advice of “don’t define yourself”. Well, I do see the wisdom in that, but at the same time, I see nothing wrong with “defining” yourself. Definitions can (will) change based upon life experiences, but “defining” can also provide you with a starting point.

A couple more trails to think about: The Hayduke Trail, and the Colorado Trail in the US, and lots of interesting backpacking adventures in Tasmania — so much wildlife in Tassy.

First of all, thank you so much for checking out my blog and for taking the time to comment! I really appreciate it.

And thank you so much for the advice on guiding. All advice is seriously welcome. I would absolutely love to learn more about being a mountaineering guide. It would be incredible to be in touch with a guiding company! That would honestly be incredible. I can’t even begin to say thank you enough.

I see the wisdom in both sides! But I think as far as advancing my career, defining myself is kind of a necessity. I also find an odd comfort in being able to define myself as a hiker/backpacker/writer.

Thanks (again) for the trail suggestions. I’ll definitely look into those trails! I would give anything to go to Tasmania one day, what an awesome experience that would be!

This is so refreshing to read of a young adult like yourself encouraging others to live life outside of the smartphones.
With the previous comment above, I trained to be a mountain guide…then I got married…LOL.
All the while been trying to fit in “mircoadventures”, as mentioned in your 1 post. Hopefully in a few years hoping for something more substantial!
Wishing you al the best in al your endeavours. It is an honor to be a new follower! 🙂
~Carl~

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it! Your words are too kind! I hope you are able to go on all the adventures you wish to!
I will be hopping on over to your blog soon!